The BBC has insisted that Top Gear does not condone speeding, after a report said that computer games, TV programmes and Hollywood films were encouraging a dangerous culture of exceeding the limit among UK drivers.

High-speed chases in movies and programmes such as Top Gear have built up a “cachet of excitement and glamour around speeding”, the report from Co-operative Insurance found.

Top Gear, fronted by Jeremy Clarkson, does not condone speeding, the BBC said

A statement on behalf of Top Gear said: “To say that Top Gear is all about fast cars, is devoted to speeding and targets a younger audience is simply not true.”

The statement continued: “Top Gear in no way condones exceeding the speed limit.

“To truly test ‘supercars’, they have to be driven to their limits.

“These tests are done under tightly controlled conditions on a private track, with the full assistance of health and safety.

“Not all Top Gear films feature fast cars – many of the most popular films involve epic journeys or simply modifying cars. The target audience of Top Gear is 25 to 44 year olds.”

David Neave, director of general insurance at Co-operative Insurance, had said: “It is undoubtedly the case that games, TV and films have fuelled the increase in speeding. The Fast & The Furious (computer game) and Top Gear are devoted to speeding and are targeted at a younger audience who are more likely to be encouraged to speed.”